Democratic Party chairman Gilberto Hinojosa sent a missive to Democrats connecting Akin’s comment to the policy beliefs of Texas Republicans, including GOP U.S. Senate nominee Ted Cruz, Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and the Texas GOP platform that subscribe to the belief that abortion should be illegal in cases of rape and incest.

Akin told an interviewer that he opposed abortion in instances of rape because a pregnancy rarely results. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut the whole thing down,” he said.

Hinojosa said that while GOP leaders – including Mitt Romney and John Cornyn – try to distance themselves from Akin’s remarks and have called on him to end his senatorial campaign, the fact is that many Republicans leaders agree that rape victims shouldn’t be allowed abortions. “The only distinction between Ted Cruz, Paul Ryan and Todd Akin is that Akin put down the dog whistle and stated the policy out loud. Akin’s disgusting rhetoric matches the policies of the Republican Party,” Hinojosa said.

Elizabeth Graham, director of Texas Right to Life, also sent out an e-mail blast saying the media, liberals and “anti-life zealots” are twisting what Akin was trying to say and are refusing to accept his heartfelt apology. He knows rape is violent, traumatizing and immoral, Graham said. But her point is, so is abortion.

“Friend, our views to protect Life are being assaulted in the media right now because of the liberal venom. We need Pro-Lifers to be bold and stand up for LIFE instead of throwing a conservative who tells the truth under the bus!” she wrote.

She urged followers to spread the message that Akin is right – abortion will never provide true healing - and that we need more senators like him.